the goan I network
MAPUSA
The Mapusa civic body deputed a junior engineer for the key meeting, who incidentally had no clue about the municipal council's preparation for the festival.
When Deputy Collector Gaurish Sankwalkar questioned the MMC representative on steps taken to locate fireworks stalls during the festival, the JE said: "I am not aware since I am from the engineering section".
Taken aback with the reply, the deputy collector wondered aloud whether the municipal council was serious about tackling relevant issues in the interest of the public.
"I have to send a report to the Collector on the administration's preparedness for the Chaturthi festival. If you do not know where the stalls of fireworks will be located, then why are you here?" a
visibly upset Sankwalkar questioned.
But this was not the first time that the civic body has been caught napping and for taking such key meetings in a casual manner.
In the past, the MMC has been deputing officials for the meeting without properly briefing them taking the meeting very lightly.
The Friday's meeting was attended by Mamlatdar, Dashrat Gawas, SDPO Mahesh Gaonkar, Mapusa PI Tushar Lotlikar, Calangute PI Jivba Dalvi, Mapusa Traffic PI Tushar Vernekar, Mapusa Fire Station in-charge Bosco Ferrao, Electricity Department Assistant Engineer Norman Athaeid, BDO Prajakta Goltekar and representatives of other departments like PWD, WRD, etc.
The deputy collector directed the MMC representative to de-silt the Mapusa river around the place where Ganesh Visarjan was done.
He also requested the electricity department to take necessary steps to adequately illuminate the Visarjan area.
On the law and order issue, the deputy collector said it was necessary that all those who organize Sarvajanik Ganesh should install CCTV cameras or engage private security around the pandal.
